Three Books That Helped Me Get Back Into Writing

“A drop of ink may make a million think.”

I love this quote by Lord Byron.  As a reader, I’ve often found these words to be true.  How many books have shaped who I am as a person…The Chaos Walking Trilogy, anything by C.S. Lewis, anything by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Bible…and of course, the series that started me on a path to writing, The Trixie Belden Mysteries. 

Words do something magical when they’re put on paper. They come to life. They move, they invoke, they create.  They live on long after the pages of a book have closed. Whenever I’m feeling stuck in life, I can usually find a book to give me direction.  

So naturally, the bookstore is where I turned when I wanted to get back into writing (you can read about why I quit writing here). I needed a boost, a reminder of who I was and what God had called me to do. 

As usual, books did not let me down.

Below are three books that helped me get out of one of the worst writing slumps of my life.  Only one of them deals specifically with writing, but all three spoke directly to the some very dry places in my soul.  Maybe they won’t do the same for you—maybe you need a different sort of roadmap—but I’m praying these books will at least give you a place to start. 

1). Called to Create, by Jordan Raynor.

 You may have already noticed this, but artists in general usually don’t get the respect or recognition they deserve.  Outsiders often look upon art as a hobby, a fun pastime, but very seldom a career. Called to Create deals beautifully with this dilemma, pointing out that artists, maybe especially artists, reflect our Creator more than any other group.  God is the ultimate Artist, the Design Master, the supreme Authority on making something out of nothing.  He paints sunsets and composes symphonies out of wind and even calls his Son the Word.  As artists, we should feel privileged and proud of this great heritage. 

Called to Create draws from personal stories of all sorts of creators, including some we all know of such as Chic Fil A.  It points out that as Christians, our art is not about us, but about glorifying the One who gave us the talent to begin with.  This book was a great reminder that art is not just a gift, but a calling. 

2). You are a Writer (so start acting like one), by Jeff Goins. 

This short and sweet little book was precisely what I needed to get me back into a writer’s mindset. It tells of Goin’s journey to becoming a professional writer, and offers practical advice on how to think like a writer, write like a writer, and get noticed like a writer.  Some of my favorite quotes from this book are:

“You have to choose your priorities, or they will choose you.”

“Do you really think there isn’t an audience for your content? Trust me: they are out there. You just need to find them.”

“You are a creator of content, a wizard of words.  They need you.  Act like it.”

Full transparency, this book is what made me realize I wanted (and needed) to start blogging again.  If you’re a writer who’s not writing and you need a swift kick in the pants, read Goin’s book.  In fact, read it regardless. It’s a great addition to any writer’s library. 

3). You’re Made for a God-sized Dream, by Holley Gerth. 

“If life has diminished your capacity to dream, here’s your permission to start again.”

I needed to hear these words from God-sized Dream. How about you? Maybe there’s a dream on your heart that you’re not perusing for any number of reasons, and it’s left you feeling restless and unsatisfied.  Holley Gerth gets that.  She tackles that along with nearly every excuse we dreamers can come up with for not turning our dreams into reality, and offers game plans for what to do next.  She walks beside you with gentle advice and godly insight.  She cheers for you.  She makes you feel like she’s sitting across the table from you with a cup of coffee and a ready ear. 

If you are a deferred dreamer, this book is for you.  It is impossible not to feel encouraged after even a few chapters of God-sized Dream.  If you are a writer who doubts your calling, I especially recommend this book. 

And there you have it! My book picks for stepping back into the writing world.  If you have any reading recommendations for writing inspiration, I would love to know about them! Drop me a note in the comments below.  Happy reading my fellow bookworms.